Paint brushes and the like



April 28, 1964 w 3,130,434

PAINT BRUSHES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 2'7, 1961 '2 w we:

lllllll mm! l I INVENTOR. DONALD GEORGE D1 Illlll Oberlin, [Flaky Donrmlly United States Patent 3,139,434 PAINT BRUSHES AND THE LIKE I Donaid George Daw, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Flange & Manufacturing (10., Inc., New York, N.Y.

Filed Feb. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 91,892 2 Claims. (Cl. 192) This invention relates to improvements in paint brushes and the like (hereinafter referred to as a paint brush) and it refers particularly to improvements in the means for fastening the bristles of a paint brush to the handle.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 862,606, filed December 29, 1959, now Patent No. 3,076,989.

In the manufacture of paint brushes it is usual for the bristles to have their inner ends held in what is commonly termed a knot, and for the bristles to be mounted in a sheet metal ferrule which is fastened to a wooden handle by nails, pins or equivalent fastenings. The inner ends of the bristles, in many cases, are set in rubber and the ferrule is fastened to the knot or rubbermounted inner ends of the bristles by a row of small nails, pins or the like through the outer end portion of the ferrule. That is to say, there are generally two rows of nails or like fastenings-one at the inner or rear end of the ferrule to fasten it to the handle, and a second at the outer or front end of the ferrule to secure the bristles in the ferrule.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved construction of paint brush which will lead to economy of production and enable paint brushes to be made more rapidly than hitherto by mass production methods. A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of paint brush which may be readily assembled by pressing together the several parts, using a suitable adhesive to bond together the inner ends of the bristles and to bond the bristles and ferrule to the handle.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a paint brush having a handle including a substantially rigid bridging member lying across the open mouth of a socket at one end of the handle, the bridging member being adhesively secured to a ferrule and to a knot of bristles bonded to the ferrule. The ferrule is preferably shaped so that it has an inturned lip at its front or outer end portion to act as a stop holding the adhesively bonded bristle knot in position in the ferrule.

A suitable type of bridging member may be in the form of a plate member having depending legs engaging in the socket by snap-on connection. The plate member may be perforated to allow the adhesive mass to squeeze through and form an interlocking pinned joint with the adhesive mass bonding the handle to the ferrule and bristle knot.

Another type of bridging member may consist of the layer of set adhesive bonding the handle to the ferrule and the bristle knot. This layer is secured to the handle through a plurality of transverse lugs secured in and eX- tending from the handle socket, the outer ends of the lugs being embedded in the adhesive mass before it is set and whilst it is effecting at the same time a bond with the ferrule and the bristle knot. As with the previously mentioned bridging member the outer ends of the lugs may be perforated to provide an interlocking connection wtih the set adhesive layer.

A cowl may be fitted about the ferrule to provide for an attractive or ornamental appearance, the cowl being a separate part or formed integrally with the handle and its socket.

The handle may be secured in the ferrule through the medium of a separate part in the form of a plate member having depending legs engaging in the socket by snap-on connection and perforation in the plate allowing the adhesive mass to squeeze therethrough ad form a locking connection when the adhesive mass is set.

In another form the handle is secured through the medium of transverse lugs secured in and extending from the handle socket and embedded at their outer ends in the adhesive mass, the outer ends being perforated or provided with apertures to allow the adhesive to squeeze therethrough and form a locking connection with the adhesive layer which when set forms or acts as the bridging member rigidly supporting the bristle knot.

In order that the invention and its manner of performance may be clearly understood and readily put into practical effect, practical embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the paint brush;

FIG. 2 shows the bristle end of the paint brush handle;

FIG. 3 illustrates the construction of the bridge;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through portion of the paint brush, the section being taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows the bristle end of the paint brush, the handle of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a section through the ferrule having the knot of bristles bonded into it; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section through portion of the paint brush having the modified form of handle illustrated in FIG. 5.

Reference is made initially to the constructional embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. The paint brush made according to this form of the invention and illustrated in these figures of the drawings has four parts-the handle, a bridge member, a ferrule and a cowl-in addition to the bristles 7 and the adhesive securing the bristles in the ferrule and the ferrule and cowl to the handle. For the purposes of this specification the adhesive is considered as an integer of the combination.

The handle 8 of the brush is made of nylon or other suitable plastic material-conveniently made by injection moulding operationsand it is of hollow construction. At the front or bristle end of the handle 8 is a socket portion 9 of substantially rectangular shape, with rounded corners, having a base wall 9a, a side wall 10, a peripheral flange 11 about that wall, a recess 12 in the flange 11 outwardly of the wall 10, lugs 13 extending transversely of the wall 12 at the ends and at intermediate locations in the length of the wall, and longitudinal slots 14 in the opposite sides of the wall between the lugs 13.

Fitted into the socket portion 9 is a bridge 15 having legs 16 formed with spigots 17 for engagement in the slots 14, and holes 18 in the top plate of the bridge. The outer surface of the bridge top plate is roughened-as by the formation of criss-cross 1inesand the length of the bridge 15 is substantially the same as the length of the wall 10, the legs 16 being of such length and of such transverse spacing that the spigots 17 will engage in the slots 14 with the top plate of the bridge extending over the lugs 13 close to the outer ends thereof.

The bridge 15 may be made as a die-casting of a standard zinc alloy, or it may be made of nylon or other suitable plastic material.

The ferrule 19 is of substantially rectangular shape, with rounded corners, having an inturned lip or flange 20 at its front edge, and it is conveniently made as a diecasting or as a plastic mouldingof nylon or other suitable plastic material. The ferrule is of such internal length and width as to fit tightly in direct surface contact about the wall 19 of the handle, and it is of such length that when it is fitted tightly onto the socket portion 9 of the handle 8 with its rear edge accommodated in the recess 12 the inturned lip or flange 29 is a short distance--- as about As"forwardly of the outer surface of the bridge 15.

' The cowl 21 is substantially the same shape as the ferrule 19, having an inturned lip 22 at its front edge, and it is made to be a tight fit on the ferrule 19. This cowl 21 is provided for decorative purposes and is preferably made of the same material as the handle 8as nylon.

The cowl 21 is provided when the ferrule 19 is made as a die-casting but will not generally be required when the ferrule 19 is made of nylon or other plastic material.

In the assembly of the parts for the manufacture of a paint brush the bridge 15 is fitted to the socket portion 9 by pressing the legs 16 between the sides of the wall 10 so as to effectengagement of the spigots 17 in the slots 14. Those spigots 17 are adapted for ready engagement in the slots 14 but they are not easily disengaged therefrom. The ferrule 19 is pressed into the cowl 21 and then the bristles 7 are loaded into the ferrule 19 by known means. Conventionally, the bristles are fitted into the ferrule 19 from the rear end, passing through the ferrule until the front ends of the bristles engage with a stop located a suitable distance forwardly of the front edge ofthe ferrule, when the rear ends of the bristles 7 are a short distanceas about %"-in from the front edge of the ferrule 19.

When the ferrule 19 is fitted with the bristles 7 an adhesive-indicated at 2'3is applied to the inside of the ferrule 19 so as to cover the inner or rear ends of the bristles and securely bond them in position. A suitable adhesive is an epoxy or polyester resin. When that adhesive has set a further quantity of the adhesive is added to the surface of the set adhesive, and a small quantity of a suitable adhesive is applied to the rear edge of the cowl 21. Then, the ferrule 19 and cowl 21 are pushed over the wall liland bridge 15 until the rear edges of the ferrule 19 and cowl 21 engage in the recess 12. In doing that, the second layer of adhesive over the inner ends of the bristles 7 is pressed firmly onto the bridge 15 so that a part of the adhesive is squeezed through the holes 18 in the bridge to effect a locking engagement between the'bridge 15 and the adhesive-bonded bristles 7. In addition a portion of the adhesive is forced laterally outwardly of the bristles at their bound end as indicated at 23a in order to insure the permanent retention of the bristle knotwithin the ferrule. Thus, the ferrule 19 and its cowl 21 together with the bristles 7, are secured to the handle 8.

It is to be noted that the interlocking of the several parts is effected by the combination of a mechanical locking of the bridge 15 to the handle 8 and the adhesive bonding of the bristles 7 to the ferrule 19 and to the bridge 15. The bridge 15 provides a firm base for the bristles 7 and tends to prevent bowing of the bristles at theinner ends thereof.

It will be realised that as the cowl is provided for decorative purposes, it may be omitted if desired-particularly when the ferrule is made of plastic material.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES to 7, the paint brush made according to this modified form of the invention has two parts only, the handle and a ferrule, in addition to the bristles 7 and the adhesive securing the bristle knot in the ferrule, and the combined bristle knot and ferrule to the handle. As the ferrule may be conveniently made of plastic material, and thus be ornamental or of attractive appearance, it will not be necessary to provide the cowl shown in the previous embodiment.

The handle 8 of the brush is of the same construction and material as that described and shown with reference to FIGURES 2 to 4, with the exception that slots 14 are omitted, holes 24 are provided in the lugs 13 and recess 12 is of a width sutficient to accommodate the ferrule 19 only.

Ferrule 19 is also of the same construction and material as that described and shown in the previous embodiment, and is adapted to be secured in recess 12 in the same manner as the combined cowl and ferrule of the previous embodiment.

In the assembly of the parts for the manufacture of a paint brush according to the modified form of FIGURES 5 to 7, the bristle knot is bonded in the ferrule in the same manner as previously described, and this is particularly illustrated in FIGURE 6. That is to say, the bristle knot is bonded in the ferrule by use of a layer of adhesive, indicated in FIGURES 6 and 7 by the reference 25.

When the adhesive bonding the bristle knot to the ferrule 19 is set, the ferrule is held in the position shown in FIGURE 6 and a further quantity of adhesive indicated by the reference 26 is added to the surface of the set adhesive layer 25 around the bristle knot. The handle 8 is then inserted into the ferrule 19 until the rear edge portion of the ferrule engages securely in recess 12 in the handle. In this assembled position, the lugs 13 are embedded at their outer ends in the further quantity of adhesive 25, which is of sufiicient depth in the ferrule above the bristle knot to pass through the holes or apertures 24 in the lugs 13 thus effecting, when set, a locking engagement between the handle and the ferrule with its bonded bristle knot. A small quantity of adhesive may be applied to the rear edge of ferrule 19 to ensure sealing of the ferrule in recess 12.

It will be noted that in this modified form, the preformed bridge member 15 of the prior embodiment is omitted and the handle is directly secured to the ferrule and the bristle knot by the adhesive layer 26, the intermediate lugs 13 providing adequate support for the centre part of the bristles. The layer 26 of set adhesive constitutes a substantially rigid member which is bonded to. the lugs 13, to the ferrule 19 and also to the first adhesive layer 25.

It is to be noted that the design of the ferrule assists in the bonding of the bristle knot to the ferrule in that the inturned lip at the front or outer edge portion of the ferrule provides a stop to hold the first adhesive layer 25 in position.

Although the steps of assembling of the bristles in the ferrule described above include two applications of adhe sive, the assembly can be equally carried out by using one application of adhesive and embedding the bristle knot in the ferrule at the same time as the handle lugs 13 are embedded in the adhesive. This can be achieved by providing suitable jigs for correctly locating the ferrule and the bristles during assembly and application of the adhesive. This alternative form of the invention may be used with small brushesas one inch or one and a half inch brushes.

I claim:

1. A paint brush comprising in combination a hollow, one-piece, handle molded of relatively lightweight synthetic plastic material having an elongated hand grip portion and terminating at one end in an outwardly disposed socket, said socket including a base wall integral with said hand grip portion, a continuous side wall ex tending outwardly from said base Wall, a laterally extending flange formed as a continuation of said base wall and completely surrounding the same, said flange being formed with a relatively narrow peripheral recess extending around said side wall of said socket, bristles extending outwardly of said handle and adhesively bound together for a distance extending from their inner ends, securing means securing said bristles directly to said handle including a single adhesive mass spaced outwardly of said flange and base wall integral with said adhesively bound end ofsaid bristles, lateral surface forming means provided on said side wall of said socket for effecting interlocking engagement between said socket and said securing means, a portion of said adhesive mass encasing sald adhesively bound end of said bristles, said encasing portion being interposed between the ends of said bristles and said socket and extending laterally outwardly of said bristles at said adhesively bound end, and a ferrule molded of relatively lightweight synthetic plastic material formed with an opening therethrough adhesively bound to said bristles and tightly engaged about and in direct contact with said side wall of said socket, said ferrule extending outwardly of said socket and formed at its outermost end with an inturned lip bordering said opening and extending inwardly so as to at least partially overlie said outer edge of said socket side wall, said bristles extending outwardly through said opening of said ferrule and said lip engaging said bristles and acting as a stop member for said portion of said adhesive mass extending laterally outwardly of said bristles whereby said laterally outwardly extending portion of said adhesive mass is retained between said lip and said outer edge of said socket, the inner end of said ferrule being tightly received within and completely filling said peripheral recess.

2. A paint brush comprising in combination a hollow, one-piece, handle molded of relatively lightweight synthetic plastic material having an elongated hand grip portion and terminating in an outwardly disposed socket, said socket including a laterally extending base wall integral with said grip portion and a continuous side wall extending outwardly from said base wall, a laterally extending flange formed as a continuation of said base wall and completely surrounding the same, said flange being formed with a peripheral recess extending around said side wall of said socket, a plurality of relatively narrow lugs extending from the outer edge of said side wall as a continuation of the same including laterally extending adhesive engaging surfaces, bristles extending outwardly of said handle and adhesively bound together for a distance extending from their inner ends, a single adhesive mass spaced outwardly of said flange and base wall integral with said adhesively bound end of said bristles and securing said bristles directly to said socket, said adhesive engaging surfaces interlocked with said adhesive mass, a

portion of said adhesive mass encasing said adhesively bound end of said bristles, said encasing portion being interposed between the ends of said bristles and said socket and extending laterally outwardly of said bristles at said adhesively bound end, and a ferrule molded of relatively lightweight synthetic plastic material formed with an opening therethrough adhesively bound to said bristles and tightly engaged about and in direct surface contact with said side wall of said socket, said ferrule extending outwardly of said lugs and formed at its outermost end with an inturned lip bordering said opening and extending inwardly so as to at least partially overlie said outer edge of said socket side wall, said adhesively bound bristles extending outwardly through said opening of said ferrule and said lip engaging said bristles and acting as a stop member for said portion of said adhesive mass extending laterally outwardly of said bristles whereby said laterally outwardly extending portion of said adhesive mass is retained between said lip and said outer edge of said socket, the inner end of said ferrule being tightly received within and completely filling said peripheral recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,508,931 Simms Mar. 23, 1950 2,562,716 Hervey July 31, 1951 2,709,272 Pettengill May 31, 1955 2,840,841 Maxwell July 1, 1958 3,023,439 Danley Mar. 6, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 156,999 Switzerland Nov. 27, 1956 534,167 Italy Oct. 7, 1955 543,646 Belgium Dec. 30, 1955 874,950 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1961 1,164,549 France May 19, 1958 1,251,671 France Dec. 12, 1960 

1. A PAINT BRUSH COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A HOLLOW, ONE-PIECE HANDLE MOLDED OF RELATIVELY LIGHTWEIGHT SYNTHETIC PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING AN ELONGATED HAND GRIP PORTION AND TERMINATING AT ONE END IN AN OUTWARDLY DISPOSED SOCKET, SAID SOCKET INCLUDING A BASE WALL INTEGRAL WITH SAID HANG GRIP PORTION, A CONTINUOUS SIDE WALL EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BASE WALL, A LATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGE FORMED AS A CONTINUATION OF SAID BASE WALL AND COMPLETELY SURROUNDING THE SAME, SAID FLANGE BEING FORMED WITH A RELATIVELY NARROW PERIPHERAL RECESS EXTENDING AROUND SAID SIDE WALL OF SAID SOCKET, BRISTLES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID HANDLE AND ADHESIVELY BOUND TOGETHER FOR A DISTANCE EXTENDING FROM THEIR INNER ENDS, SECURING MEANS SECURING SAID BRISTLES DIRECTLY TO SAID HANDLE INCLUDING A SINGLE ADHESIVE MASS SPACED OUTWARDLY OF SAID FLANGE AND BASE WALL INTEGRAL WITH SAID ADHESIVELY BOUND END OF SAID BRISTLES, LATERAL SURFACE FORMING MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID SIDE WALL OF SAID SOCKET FOR EFFECTING INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID SOCKET AND SAID SECURING MEANS, A PORTION OF SAID ADHESIVE MASS ENCASING SAID ADHESIVELY BOUND END OF SAID BRISTLES, SAID ENCASING PORTION BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID BRISTLES AND SAID SOCKET AND EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID BRISTLES AT SAID ADHESIVELY BOUND END, AND A FERRULE MOLDED OF RELATIVELY LIGHTWEIGHT SYNTHETIC PLASTIC MATERIAL FORMED WITH AN OPENING THERETHROUGH ADHESIVELY BOUND TO SAID BRISTLES AND TIGHTLY ENGAGED ABOUT AND IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH SAID SIDE WALL OF SAID SOCKET, SAID FERRULE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID SOCKET AND FORMED AT ITS OUTERMOST END WITH AN INTURNED LIP BORDERING SAID OPENING AND EXTENDING INWARDLY SO AS TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY OVERLIE SAID OUTER EDGE OF SAID SOCKET SIDE WALL, SAID BRISTLES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING OF SAID FERRULE AND SAID LIP ENGAGING SAID BRISTLES AND ACTING AS A STOP MEMBER FOR SAID PORTION OF SAID ADHESIVE MASS EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID BRISTLES WHEREBY SAID LATERALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID ADHESIVE MASS IS RETAINED BETWEEN SAID LIP AND SAID OUTER EDGE OF SAID SOCKET, THE INNER END OF SAID FERRULE BEING TIGHTLY RECEIVED WITHIN AND COMPLETELY FILLING SAID PERIPHERAL RECESS. 